TAROT MOOD

Staying Centered

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I’m playing a bit of catch up today.  I know that I meditated on the 29th, but I’m not sure for how long or the method I used since I’m now finishing up on writing this post on July 1st.  I did meditate tho… so there’s that.

Herbal Tarot - Medicine Wheel of Fortune - Slippery ElmToday’s draw is the Medicine Wheel (Wheel of Fortune) which is traditionally a representation of the unpredictability of life and the ups and downs we go through as we move through our lives.

I think I’ve mentioned this before, but the Medicine Wheel reference on this card makes me a bit uncomfortable.  This deck is very diverse… but it doesn’t tip into appropriation (IMO) anywhere but in this card and the use of the native wording on the card and references in the book.   I don’t see the imagery on this card as a medicine wheel at all, but rather as a sort of faerie ring in stone around a mighty elm tree.  I see incognito Fae encircling something respected and sacred.

Spiritually speaking, Ulmus fulva (Slippery Elm) is a representation of nourishing encouragement, strength, and the soothing of the spirit.  It is often used in workings that involve assisting in the acceptance of change, and centering the inner self while moving through transitions with ease.  Medically, it is an antiemetic with high nutrient content, meaning that even when someone is extremely sick and nausea, they can usually tolerate the herb if given in tea form or added as a powder to foods such as oatmeal or soup.

What I see here as the message in today’s card is a reminder to stay close to the center of the wheel.   In other words?  Stay centered.   Roller coasters and amusement park rides are all well and good for a few seconds, but when you incorporate that energy into your life it becomes a chaotic mess.   Stay centered and focused, and it’ll all work out just fine.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: Who in my life could benefit from some extra affection at this time?

Dream Raven Tarot

Reading Summary: All of them (Ten of Cups). Don’t overtax yourself or beat yourself up about this (Seven of Wands), you love them all and do what you can for them and they know this (King of Wands). You aren’t slacking, they’re just greedy (Six of Cups). Stay balanced, because you just can’t please everybody all the time (Four of Pentacles).

Take Away:  Everyone in my life could benefit from me giving them some extra affection, but this is because they love me and… because they love me they are greedy for that affection.  It doesn’t mean I’m neglecting them, nor does it mean I’m doing anything wrong by keeping things in balance and doing what works (and is healthy) for me.

DECK USED:  DREAM RAVEN TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I carry more joy forward into the future?

Grimalkin Tarot Reading Summary: Develop new ways to incorporate your current passions and your creative spark into more of your life (Page of Wands), and work at keeping your inner critic in check (ignoring the red bird in favor of the dove in the Queen of Swords). You’re strong enough to make these changes (Strength).

Take Away:  Incorporating more joy into my life involves making sure that my inner critic’s voice is not allowed to carry as much weight as I would usually give it, but also requires following the spark of inspiration and creative interest when it flares up rather than ignoring it or pushing it aside.  Instead, make room for these things that kindle that inner spark.

DECK USED:  GRIMALKIN TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: What am I asked to take with me moving forward?

Tarot Mood

Reading Summary: Stop worrying so much (Nine of Swords) and make your transition with grace (The World). This change you are slowly moving through (Death) is not as scary or complicated as you’re making it out to be (The Moon Rx).

Take Away:   Confidence and grace, while leaving behind my fear.  Making changes like those I’ve been working towards are not easy and take time.  Sometimes it seems like a constant uphill battle or feels like I’m going to fail. Sometimes anxiety over what the new results will look like rise up to make me squirm.  The encouragement in these cards is a reminder to stay centered and focused, and not allow these things to distract me.

DECK USED:  TAROT MOOD

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How will I know I am on track?

Trippin' Waite Tarot

Reading Summary: Gideon will help with that (King of Cups). Just stay calm and take your time (Temperance), and make good choices (The Lovers).

Take Away:  Well, you are not always the King of Cups in every reading where this card shows up.  But you are in this one.  Knowing that I stay on track is a group effort.  I need the outside input from those that know me the most and best.  As long as I listen to that input and stay true to my path and that slow progress, making the choices that feel right to my inner compass along the way, then I’ll continue to be on track and be able to feel (through my inner compass) that I have not deviated.

DECK USED:  TRIPPIN’ WAITE TAROT

Cleansing Breaths

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IMG_5009Today’s meditation was a little over ten minutes long, and I chose to go with a guided meditation today.  The topic of the meditation was a guidance on one of the methods used to deal with invasive thoughts during your meditation practice.   I think that the quote in the graphic to the right covers that really well.  The method involves opting to acknowledge the thoughts that intrude rather than trying to push them away.   Instead, you recognize that you were thinking, and what it was about… but you don’t allow it to suck you into a dialogue.  Instead, you identify the rabbit hole as a rabbit hole and step over it.

Herbal Tarot - Three of Swords - Pleurisy RootToday’s draw is the Three of Swords, which is traditionally a representation of themes that have to do with disappointment, heartbreak, grief, and other forms of emotional hurt.

I used to feel that the Sword suit was a strange place for this card, as the Swords are supposed to be about thought, intellect, and communication. But, over time I’ve come to understand that it is not the heart or the emotions that spur these feelings represented in the card. Instead, it is the mind that spur these feelings… and the heart that then feels them.   Since the feelings are spawned from the mind, it then makes sense to me that they are in the Sword suit.

What stands out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card today is the two seed pots that are in the process of falling on the left side of the card.  These seed pods speak to me of renewal, while the plant depicted in this card speaks to me of purging.  Asclepias tuberosa (pleurisy root) is an expectorant, diuretic, and diaphoretic.  It very literally forces the body to purge itself of toxins and its spiritual uses are very similar.

Combined with the traditional meaning of the card, the message that I find here today is about letting go.  It’s about releasing the issues and problems, the bad thoughts and negativity.   Let go of the “can’ts” and the “this sucks” and instead embrace that sometimes things are difficult and sometimes they hurt… but that is temporary.   Once you’ve had a moment to wallow in those negative feelings, it’s time to let them go and keep moving.  Take a deep, cleansing breath and reach for a new start.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I invite more compassionate energy into myself?

Tarot Mood

Reading Summary: Let go of so much of the juggling (Two of Pentacles Rx). Balance out the feminine and masculine energies that are threaded through your emotions (King of Cups and Queen of Cups). Understand this is just one leg on a long journey (The World).

Take Away: You know, I hadn’t actually considered that there might be a bit of imbalance going on in the emotions I’m trying to become more comfortable with and that may be why I’m struggling with it.   It’s something I need to delve into and look at more closely, but the message from the cards rings true. The message in the Two of Pentacles and the World are not new and something that has been repeated often as a reminder lately, and are things that I am actively working on and keeping in mind.

DECK USED:  TAROT MOOD

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: Philosophical Question: Does fate exist?

Tarot for DandelionsReading Summary: We move slowly along our path (Knight of Pentacles), making the wisest decisions and judgements that we can along the way (King of Swords), and determined to do the best that we can towards what sparks our passions (Queen of Wands) with the tools we have (Magician).

Take Away: Although I’m not sure that I agree with this answer, the answer in the cards says that no… fate does not exist.  These cards speak of autonomy, personal choice, and control over one’s path and one’s future.  There is nothing in these cards indicating a lack of control, nor direction being placed in the hands of fate.

Side note:  Yes, I covered the nipples on the Queen. These posts on my blog are backed up on Tumblr, which has a very strict “no female nipples” policy.  So I try to make sure I cover the nips when they’re visible just to make sure I don’t get booted off that platform. I think that also may be a policy on IG as well (although I’m not 100% certain on that one).

DECK USED:  TAROT FOR DANDILIONS

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: Draw a card and let it serve as a reminder of something good about this very moment.

Phantasmagoric Theater Tarot - Seven of SwordsReading Summary: I’m not the one cleaning the bathrooms. I essentially logic’d my way out of doing the task myself and foisted it off on L.

Take Away: I mean seriously… who the hell wants to clean bathrooms. It’s a miserable experience and it’s something I usually pay others to do for me.  L and Z have essentially put it off on their chore list until it was the last thing, and then tried to skip it to start over on the list.  So, yeah.   I pointed out that the bathrooms needed cleaning and I’d already wiped down the ceilings for them, so they needed to finish it.

So!  We have clean bathrooms!

DECK USED:  PHANTASMAGORIC THEATER TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How can I live in abundance?

Tarot of MetamorphosisReading Summary: Make the most of what you have (Queen of Pentacles) and be grateful for it rather than constantly focusing on getting more (Temperance).

Take Away:  Abundance comes in one’s perception and there is no “line” or “enough” to where a line can be drawn to say that you’ve made it.  It’s about finding the things that make you happy and help you feel complete and fulfilled, and appreciating them instead of constantly looking for more.   This is what the cards reflect here.   Find those things in life that make you happy and fulfill you now… and you are already there.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF METAMORPHOSIS

Stability For All

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

As I mentioned in the post for the 18th, I’m in the process of catching up, although I do remember what happened with today’s meditation.   It was skipped.  I wanted to get on the road to head north for my mail as early as possible, so instead of lying down and risking falling asleep in the middle of my meditation, I skipped it.  I then played with you when I got home until I was dead tired and dropped right to sleep at bed time. So… no meditation today.

Herbal TarotToday’s draw is the Ten of Pentacles, which is a representation of fulfillment and completion in the areas of finance, resources, manifestation, health, and the physical world.

What stood out to me the strongest in the imagery of today’s card was the root (fruit) of the Wild Yam plant on the card.  Dioscorea villosa is a spiritual representation of releasing fears and using one’s talents and skills to better better not just your own position but to help others as well.   What I see here, though, is more than that.  The fruit of this plant holds strength in the soil.  It is the foundation itself that is strong, and where its strength lies.

The message that I see in today’s card has to do with building your own foundation, and using it not just to provide stability and comfort for yourself… but for others as well.  It is a message about cherishing those that are closest to you, and supporting them the best that you are able using the strengths that are at your disposal.

I have worked hard to manifest this stability in my life for a long time, but I have not taken the opportunity until recently to really appreciate the fact that I also provide this stability for others.   Today’s card is a reminder that I’m doing a lot more than I realize.

DECK USED:  HERBAL TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: What can I do to help my inner adolescent feel heard and understood?

Tarot MoodReading Summary:  More fun (The Sun) combined with the assurance of slow and steady stability (Knight of Pentacles).  Don’t let uncertainty (The Moon) turn you harsh and your inner critic vicious (Queen of Swords Rx).

Take Away: As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t really have much of a connection with my inner adolescent, but I see the sense in the approach that the cards lay out here for me.  Who doesn’t want a little more fun, and who (when feeling vulnerable) doesn’t feel the need for a slow but steady hand?

DECK USED:  TAROT MOOD

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: What should I take to heart right now?

Tarot of Metamorphosis

Reading Summary:  Being bossy and commandeering (Chariot) is not going to get me to a place of stability and security (King of Pentacles).  Resist reacting to instability (The Wheel) and follow your intuitive voice instead (High Priestess).

Side note:  I get a good chuckle out of the Chariot card in this deck every time I see it.  The blond is like “Pull my hair again and I’ll eat your face off!!” while the brunette is like “OOhhh, I wish he’d pull my hair like that”.

Take Away:  I need to let up on myself for a bit.   I need to let myself coast for a bit and ease back on the grip on those reigns.   It’s a good time to do it, being that I’m sliding into my slow season with the business. The Wheel card in this reading refers that the ups and downs of my business and how I sometimes freak out when things slip into a lull, but the cards indicate that a lull is just what is needed at this time.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF METAMORPHOSIS

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What is my hardest lesson?

Tarot of a Moon Garden

Reading Summary: Self-love (Ace of Cups Rx), and not deceiving myself into thinking things are bad (Three of Swords) when they’re not (Nine of Cups).

Take Away: I often use my fear of instability and inadequacy as a drive to push myself forward and prod myself into doing more and working harder, especially in times when I really need to take a break but don’t want to let go enough to allow it.  The cards here indicate that my hardest lesson is loving myself enough to recognize I don’t need to use these methods, and I can ease up and be kinder to myself.  I am aware of the lesson I am being asked to learn… it’s just the act of actually learning it, taking i to heart, and putting it into action that I’m struggling with.

DECK USED:  TAROT OF A MOON GARDEN

 

Patience Can Be Progress

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Today’s meditation was fifteen minutes long and was tagged on to the end of my yoga session.  I needed a little extra time stretching today, so instead of taking time aside from my yoga, I extended my yoga practice and incorporated the meditation into it with the addition of some breathing and focusing exercises.

Japaridze TarotToday’s draw is the King of Gardens (King of Pentacles) which is traditionally interpreted as a representation of measured authority, abundance earned through self discipline, business acumen, and financial/resource security.

What stood out to me the strongest in the imagery of this card this morning is the blue/black hue of the figure’s face and that the folds on the back of the head looked like a different face to me… and I am left confused. Honestly, the imagery in this card is much like the imagery in the Hermit card in this deck.  Confusing and a bit too random and abstract.  Even in the aspect that I picked out of this card, I really am at a loss.

So, going by the traditional meaning of the card rather than off of the imagery, what I see as the  message in today’s card is a reassurance of sorts.   It is a reassurance that I am doing all I can at this time to provide stability and security in my home to those that depend on me, as well as for myself.

No, my mortgage is definitely not getting paid off at the rate I would prefer it to be, but at the same time?  I am still managing to keep up on it.  I’m still managing to keep everyone safe, and put food on the table, and keep us all in the resources we need to be healthy and happy.  Today’s card is a reminder to acknowledge for myself that I’m doing a good job.

DECK USED:  JAPARIDZE TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better cope with ambiguity?

Tarot of the Animal Lords

Reading Summary: By not getting frustrated (the cage in the Three of Swords), but instead treating it with understanding (Queen of Chalices) and patience (Knight of Pentacles).

Take Away:  Usually, ambiguity frustrates me, and that creates a divide between me and the source of that ambiguity.  Instead, if I confront this behavior with understanding, it will create a deeper connection with the source of that ambiguity which will facilitate the potential for progress, while patience will help in getting where I want to go regardless of the wishy-washy bullshit. 

DECK USED:  TAROT OF THE ANIMAL LORDS

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better connect with my inner adolescent?

Bleu Cat TarotReading Summary: I am not really all that connected at all with my inner adolescent, which is where the Death card comes into this spread, as it is an indication that I will have to enact change in order to find that connection.

The Queen of Fishes with the Magician indicates that I need to take the emotional growth and lessons I’ve learned lately and use them as tools to apply to the cause (Eight of Balls).

Stalker note… the Queen of Cups seems to be getting very friendly with me this week.

Take Away:  I never really had much of an adolescence.  I was too busy being an adult.  Because of the suppression of this part of my development, I’ve never had much of a connection to this highly underdeveloped side of myself.  The cards here indicate that if I want to have a connection there, it will require long term commitment to the changes needed and using my emotional skills to build that bridge.  

Honestly?  I don’t think that I am yet at the stability phase of my current emotional growth to where I’m prepared to try and make that connection.  Not yet anyway.

DECK USED:  BLEU CAT TAROT

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: Draw a card for someone who taught you a lesson.

Tarot SireneReading Summary:  I didn’t specify the person, but rather used the cards to tell me who the person is.   The person in these cards is my meth-head ex. His very selfish Knight of Cups pursuit of me landed him in the Justice system (thank the fuck).

Take Away:  So anyway, yeah.  This is him.  And the lesson here?  Listen to your inner compass when it tells you to step back.  I stuck around far too long and paid for it deeply. If I had listened to my instincts and inner compass?  I’d have dumped his ass a lot sooner and probably been able to circumvent the whole obsessive bullshit that followed.  Moral of the story?  Listen to your gut… don’t hesitate or procrastinate.  Just do it.

DECK USED:  SIRENE TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: What have I let go of?

Tarot Mood

Reading Summary: Using going to bars (Three of Cups) and alcohol (vodka reference in Temperance) to avoid crash-and-burn emotions (The Tower)

Take Away:  It used to be that when I was super upset, instead of grounding and spend time with my plants… I would drink. At those times vodka was my friend, and yet never really solved anything and the feel better was only temporary. After making the promise to you not to do anymore drinking (because I clearly only drink for the wrong reasons), I began using my balcony and the plants there as a refuge and for grounding during times of high distress.

DECK USED:  TAROT MOOD

 

Allowing for Joy

/ Twist the Leaf / 1 Comment

Today’s meditation was ten minutes long, and another of the long and silent followings of the plucking of harp’s strings.   I am considering seeing if I can convince L to make me a recording of her plucking at a cello’s strings instead.   I haven’t discussed it with her yet, but I am thinking I might enjoy it a great deal.

All in all the meditation and two minute cycle of piriformis stretching I’m doing during it is working out really well.  The ten minutes actually seems to go by a good deal faster in this style of meditation than it did during my guided practices.

Japaridze Tarot - The FoolToday’s draw is the Fool card of the major arcana, which is a card traditionally interpreted as being full of innocence, naivete, and boundless enthusiasm and potential.

What stands out to me the strongest today in the imagery of this card is the little dog and the unicycle…. and the fact that there is no human on that unicycle.  The dog is up there alone and having a grand time of it.

I feel like these elements in the card speak not just of enthusiasm, but of trust and confidence.   Without a human there to coax the dog forward, the dog must have trust and confidence in itself rather than in a master.

The message here is about trusting yourself.  It’s okay go after the fun and silly things in life that make no sense to anyone else but you.  Have trust in yourself and the confidence to enjoy yourself without worry about what other people (or your inner critic) may think.

DECK USED:  JAPARIDZE TAROT

#TarotForGrowthJune Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I bring more pleasure into my life?

Fanuna's Tarot

Reading Summary:  Indulge in your personal temptations (The Devil) without allowing others snide glances get in your way (imagery on the Three of Cups).  You know what’s right and are strong enough to tread your own path without their input (The Empress).

Take Away:  Right.  So the Three of Cups imagery really triggered a reaction that has very little to do with the traditional card meaning here.  It had to do with the sidelong glance and open mouth of the center figure, which in my perception today feels snide.  Like a gaggle of girls snicering and gabbing rumors back and forth, yeah?

So with that in mind, the message that the cards in this spread is the whole “you do you” thing.  Don’t worry about what others are doing… or how they do things.  Focus instead upon what brings you joy and dance to the beat of your own drum.

DECK USED:  FANUNA’S TAROT

#DiscordTarotholicsJun2020 Challenge Prompt
Question: How can I better connect with my inner child?

Tattoo Tarot Ink and IntuitionReading Summary:  Remember that as capable as you are (Magician)?  You don’t have all the answers (Hierophant). Don’t turn away (Four of Cups) from the good stuff (The World).

Take Away:  There is a definite theme going on in my cards today.   Here we have another message about not taking myself so seriously all the time.  A lot of times I bypass opportunities to experience joy as I lean into responsibilities instead, turning my back on things that will bring me pleasure either emotionally or spiritually… or both, because my sense of responsibility turns me toward the use of my skills, knowledge, and abilities to fulfill obligations instead.

If I want to connect more with my inner child, I need to stop ignoring those opportunities.

DECK USED:  TATTOO TAROT INK AND INTUITION

#TheJuneTarot Challenge by Lionhart
Question: What energy is available to me this month?

Bleu Cat Tarot

Reading Summary: Discernment (Six of Cups) and emotional exploration (Ace of Cups) as well as the destructive power to tear things down (Tower) so that something better can be built in its place (not this month).

Take Away:  The energy available to me this month is one of destruction and discernment.  The cards indicate that energy is about making good choices on what I’m tearing down and breaking apart, with the purpose of adding in space for my emotional well being and growth.    It’s about picking and choosing what to keep, and what to release, and not being afraid of breaking the plate if necessary so that it can be replaced with a different one.

DECK USED:  BLEU CAT TAROT

#ConnectWithYourDeckChallenge by E Roebuck-Jones
Question: How do I feel right now?

Tarot Mood

Reading Summary: Resistant to change (Four of Pentacles) even though I know it has to happen (Judgement).  Feeling a need for help in getting my shit together (Three of Pentacles) while trying to stay positive (The Star).

Take Away:  I am trying very, very hard to get over my discomfort with change and “go with the flow”, but the fact I’ve struggled the last two weeks with falling into old habits makes it clear there’s definitely an inner struggle here.  I do feel like I need help, but I’m not sure anyone can actually do anything for me on this path at the moment… and I find myself consciously pushing towards hope in order to keep that alive rather than giving in to the shadow that such struggles can cause within me.

DECK USED:  TAROT MOOD